Tips for safely managing debris after a flood

Hoja informativa: Manejo seguro de los escombros de los edificios dañados por las inundaciones

Many structures and buildings in Harney County, including lands of the Burns Paiute Reservation, suffered significant damage from recent flooding. Debris from damaged structures can pose a threat to people and the environment if not handled safely.

Tips for safely handling renovation and demolition debris:

• Use caution when working in or around any damaged building. Keep children and pets away from debris, where they could be exposed to sharp objects, electric shock or hazardous material, including asbestos.
• Debris that has been in contact with floodwater is NOT considered hazardous waste and can be disposed of as municipal solid waste at the Burns-Hines Disposal site.
• Household hazardous waste, including paints, fuels, cleaners, poisons, fertilizers, oil filters, propane tanks, thermometers, and mercury thermostats and switches should be treated and disposed of as hazardous waste. DEQ recommends not handling or attempting to dispose of these items on your own. Contact your local waste management company or the department responsible for waste collection in your area for information on disposing of household hazardous waste.
• Asbestos should be surveyed and noted. Consult with a licensed asbestos removal contractor or call a DEQ asbestos expert before disturbing materials that may contain asbestos. Non-residential properties and homeowners can remove asbestos from inside their homes that they own and occupy as long as the asbestos waste is properly bagged, labeled, separated from other wastes and taken to a disposal site authorized to receive asbestos waste.
• Always wear personal protective gear and clothing, including eye protection, gloves and boots.
• Check with your insurance company before removing debris. The insurance company may be able to assist.

Disposing of waste

Disposal sites that are willing to accept flood debris and accept asbestos-containing materials are:

• Burns-Hines Landfill
  1550 W Monroe Street, Burns, OR 97720
  (541) 573-6441
  To dispose of asbestos-containing wastes, customer must call ahead to discuss and follow procedures.

Disposal sites that are willing to accept flood debris but CANNOT accept asbestos-containing materials are:

• Fields Landfill
  23503 Fields Denio Road, Fields, Oregon 97710
  Celina Jones, fields landfill@gmail.com
• Frenchglen Landfill
  37696 Hwy 205, Frenchglen, Oregon 97736
  Clint Whitney, (208) 891-8676, whitneytribe@gmail.com
• Drewsey Landfill
  80265 Otis Valley Road, Drewsey, Oregon 97904
  Mike Lister, (541) 589-1951
• Diamond Landfill
  38975 Lava Bed Road, Diamond, Oregon 97722
  Bill Otley, (541) 589-5809, dvribill@gmail.com
• Riley Landfill
  69089 Silver Creek Road, Riley, Oregon 97758
  Hoot Raney, (541) 589-0427

Asbestos

Asbestos is in many building materials, and it is difficult to determine which ones. When asbestos is disturbed and improperly handled, tiny fibers are released into the air and may cause lung cancer and other illnesses. Paper masks and bandanas do not filter out asbestos fibers.

Consult with a licensed asbestos removal contractor or call a DEQ asbestos expert at one of the numbers below before disturbing materials that may contain asbestos. Find more info about safe asbestos removal one DEQ’s website.

Mold and indoor air quality

Flood water can make the air in your home unhealthy. This is because when things remain wet for more than two days, they usually get moldy. Inhaling mold can cause adverse health effects, including allergic reactions. Mold also can damage materials in your home. In addition, flood water may contain microorganisms, such as bacteria, or chemicals which may affect your health. (Info from the U.S. EPA.)

• Visit EPA’s webpage for more info on indoor air quality and flood cleanup.
• Información en español: Limpieza posterior a una inundación para proteger la calidad del aire de los interiores

Septic systems

U.S. EPA has helpful information on what to do with your septic system after a flood.

Burning of materials

Check with the local fire department before conducting any open burning of construction materials. It is illegal to burn treated wood, asbestos, petroleum-based products, or anything that emits dense or noxious smoke.

Hazardous materials in the environment

If you encounter hazardous materials that may have been released into the environment during the flooding, immediately report the spill or release to the Oregon Emergency Response System (OERS) at 800-452-0311. These items could include labeled or unlabeled barrels or containers of pesticides, fertilizers, oil or other petroleum products. DEQ recommends not handling or attempting to dispose of these items on your own.

Household hazardous waste

Many homes contain small quantities of hazardous waste. These may include:

Contact your local waste management company or the department responsible for waste collection in your area for information on household hazardous waste. DEQ is working with local providers and volunteer organizations to schedule special hazardous waste collection events in the counties affected by the floods, contact DEQ for more information.

Drinking water wells

The Oregon Health Authority has information on drinking water safety after a flood.

Recycle when possible

Many buildings are constructed of metal, wood, brick and cinder block. These materials have the potential to be separated for reuse or recycling.

Contacts

• Asbestos: Tom Hack, 541-278-4626, or Frank Messina, 541-633-2019
• Solid waste: Eric Clanton, 541-298-7255 x233
• Hazardous waste: Brian Allen, 541-633-2014

Additional resources

• Fact sheet: Safely managing debris from flood damaged buildings
• Hoja informativa: Manejo seguro de los escombros de los edificios dañados por las inundaciones
• Harney County set up a webpage to house flood resources in one location. Visit the county’s flood resources page for details on public health, utilities, damage reporting, roads and other resources.